Small Jeeps Bear Load for FCA in August

Jeep continues to carry the ball for FCA US, accounting for most of the automaker’s momentum in August, in which it recorded its 65^th straight month of year-over-year sales gains in the U.S.

FCA sales reached 200,139 light vehicles in August, marking the second time the automaker surpassed the 200,000 mark this year. The performance compares to 197,444 units a year ago, for a 5.3% rise based on daily sales (one less sales day this year than last).

FCA says the results were tempered by tough year-ago comparisons and general market conditions.

“In spite of a tough 2014 comparison and extreme stock market volatility, our dealers’ competitive spirit kicked in and propelled us to our 65^th consecutive month of year-over-year sales increases,” notes Reid Bigland, head of U.S. sales for FCA.

Incentive spending for the automaker ran at an estimated 10.8% of average transaction prices in the month, or about $3,548 per unit, even with July but down from 12.0% year-ago, according to TrueCar.

Within Jeep it is the smaller, lower-priced models that are leading the charge. The new Renegade added 8,156 units to the month’s bottom line and healthy double-digit surges in Patriot and Compass models helped the brand to its 22.0% jump in daily sales for the month.

The Ram brand also landed in positive territory for August, with daily sales up 9.0%, according to WardsAuto data, driven by the 6.1% jump in fullsize pickup sales and near doubling of fullsize ProMaster Van deliveries.

Fiat’s new 500X model boosted the brand’s volume by 1,029 units, offsetting a 35.9% dip in demand for the core 500 model. Overall Fiat sales rose 4.6% daily on a volume of 3,388 units.

Dodge and Chrysler landed in negative territory, falling 11.8% and 10.7%, respectively. The Challenger, rising 30.0% daily, was the only real bright spot for Dodge, while the 200, up 34.8%, was the only Chrysler model to post a gain.

The automaker says it wrapped up August with a 74-day supply of inventory, or 571,290 vehicles.

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